Can dumping machine



NOV. 2, 1948. NEWTON 2,453,077

CAN DUMPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1945 1 s Sheets-Sheet 1 w Waw W /N VEN 7'02 HTTGQNEVS Nov. 2, 1948.

CAN DUM Filed Se t. 14, 1945 NEWTON PING MACHINE s Sheets Sheet 2 III;

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- QT OQNEI S Patented Nov. 2, 1948 PATENT smear;}-;;

RobertigNewton, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, v I assignor toCalifornia Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., acorporation of New York Application September 14, 1945, Serial No. 616,176,

My invention relatesto can dumping machines, more particularly to machines designed to receive a stack of trays, each carrying a layer of cans, pick up the trays, one' layerat atime, and invert them so that the cans maybe fed into a labelingmachine or other apparatus, and the trays removedor reuse. i

Among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a can dumping machine which is particularly designed for use in conjunction Q Claims. (01. 214-41) with an automatic tray removing apparatus disclosed in the copending application of Robert Berthe et al., Serial No 616,780, filed September 17,1945,

Second, to provide a machine of this character wherein the cans are not violently handled or in any way subjected to damage.

Third, to provide a machine of this character, which automatically adjusts itself to the stack of trays and cans as the stack is depleted.

Fourth, to providea machine of this character, 1 a

which incorporates a novel tray engaging and releasing means capable of manual operation to engage the tray, and automatic operation to release the tray.

With the above and other objects in View, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the can dumping machine with the elevator moving toward its tray receiving position. i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the elevator showing the limit switch unit.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the dumping machine with the elevator in its Fig; '7 is a similar fragmentary sectional view of the latching mechanism when the elevator is in its dumping position, the view being taken through 1-! ofFig; 3.1 p Fig. 8 is a fragmentarysectionalview through 8-8 of Fig. 3, showing the elevator centering means.

My dumpin machine includes a pair of 'A- frames l, the upper ends of which journal a cross shaft 2. Secured to the cross shaft inwardly from each-A-frame is a relatively large dumping sprocket 3. An elevator chain 4 passes over each sprocket. The lower end of one chain passes around an idler pinion socket 6 carried by one of the A-iramesznear its lower end, whereas the otherelevator chain is engagedby a corresponding drive pinion sprocket 6 supported from the otherA-frame. i i i The pinion sprockets 6 are preferably so located that the chains extend vertically between the forward sides of the dumping sprockets 'and pinion sprockets; X l The drive pinion sprocket is connected by a suitable drive means 1 to a reversible electric motor 8 which may be equipped with asuitable brake 9. Q Y

The elevator chains 4 are adapted to support an elevator structure Il The elevator structure includes a plate It! and a pair of sidewalls lt'. Brackets M are secured to the outer sides of the side walls I3, preferably two pair of brackets being provided on eachside wall. The brackets extend vertically, and the upper extremities of the brackets associated with each sidewall, journal a common rockershaft l5. Adjacent each bracket the rocker shaft is provided withllevers I 6 which extend to the normally lower or extended margin of the side walls I3. The'extremities of the levers l6 carry. latch bars I! which move in guideways Ill. The guideways and the. latch bars I! are located in. a common plane parallel to the plate l2 of theelevator. As willnbedescribed in more detail hereinafter, the latch bars "are adapted toengage trays A, each of which carries a layer of cans B, the trays being sosuspended by the latch bars that the cans are located between the trays and the plate I2. One lever I6 .ofeach set corresponding to the side walls It, is provided with an upwardly ex tending arm 19. These armsare connected by. a suitable link and lever means 20 extending across the normally upper side of the plate'Yl2, sojthat the two sets of latch bars are moved relatively inwardly or outwardly in unison.

. One of the rocker shafts I5 is veniently grasped when the elevator is lowered onto a stack of traysand cans. Adjacent oneside wall the elevator I is provided with a normally upwardly extending cam bracket 22 which pivot: allyjsupports a cam segment 23 connectediby a link 24. The link 24 is'connected to an arm extending upwardly from one of the levers lfi; The operation of the cam segment willbefde provided jwithj a I handle arm 2| located so that it can be conelevator II has been raised aha overturned sy' movement around the dumping sprockets 3-, its plate l2 slopes downwardly and rearwardiy' in approximate alignment with the chute 29. In order to direct the elevator into proper alignment; with the chute 2-9, guideposts so are provided on each side. These may co -act with a pair of the guide fingers 26, as shown best in Fi'g.- 8. t

Suitably located on the frame structure 28 is a tripelement 3lwhich engages the cam segment 23 to move the latch bars l1 from their inner tray-supporting to their outer tray releasing positi'onst The plate i2 of theelevatorsupports a; switch control arm 32 which extends downwardly through a clearance slot 33 to engage the-uppermost layer of cans contained in-thestacl =of cans and trays. The switch control arm 32 is ri idly joinedtoa lever arm 34 locatedin the normally upper or outer side of the plate I2. The lever 34' is yield'ably engaged by a; spring 35' so" that tireswitch control arm: 32' is in effect lieid: by the spring in al d'ownwai'd-ly inclined: position; The lever ar in 394" is positioned. so" that it will actuate: a swit'c'ir 3t n'ioiinted on the plate [*2.

operation Of my can dumping" machine is as follows: The traysA and cans B are wheeled into position: between the A 'frarh'es l on" a carriage d1 lit-1.161% Us Ih" carriage is preferably arranged E13 support a? pair of trays side by side. Each tray carries a lay'e of cans" B, and the trays ate at arig'd iristacks,- each tray resting the iayi of car-is below. The ttays are provided with erase cleats so that the cleats rest on the ears below, provide spaces into wh latch bars fl 'r'hay enter. "the side waiis F37 of the elevator are ei such height that when the plate it rests h the uppermost layer or cans; theiatch bars IT are imposition to enter between the'cieats of the trays sup orting the upperlayer of cans, all as shown test in Fig. 5*.

The elevator H is moved downwardly until the plate l2 rests on the uppermost layer of cans. The rhovetheht of the elevator l'l maybe stopped auto n'aticaliy by operation of the controi arm 32 on the switch 36', or if. desired, a manually operlou ft'ofi may be employed to step" downw ii movement ot the elevator, the ei'evater IT is in the position shown in Figs. 5 and- 6", the latchbars- I"! are moved from the position shown in Fig. 4' to the position shown by solid line in Fig. 4, and by dotted line in Fig. 6 to the solid line positions shownin Figs. 5" and '6.

The elevator I I is then raised by action or the motor 8, inverted or tilted into substantial aiighifiht the chute 2'9 This is the positioh shown in Fig. 3. when the elevator reaches this position the meter 8' is stopped by a suitable manually operated push button, or by an automatic switch, not shown. Automatically, asthe elevator reaches the position shown in Fig. 3, the cam seg'in'ent 23" engages the;- trip 3| moving the latch bars [1 to their laterally outer position-s, thereby releasing the trays. The layer of cans l is aframe frame struc-' 4 thereupon slide from the elevator ll onto the chute 28 and 'the trays ride the cans.

It is eohtenimated that the cans with the trays riding thereon, will move into the tray-removing apparatus described in the aforementioned copending. application of Robert Berthe et a1., although of course, other apparatus may receive the cans and tray'st After the" l'ayerof cans and the trays which formerly supported it have moved from the elevator ll, the motor 8 is reversed, causing the elevator to return to its initial position and movev downward-1y until it rests again on the remaining stack of trays and cans. is then repeated; r H

Many other embodiments of the inventionmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Y

I claim: v 1. A can: dumping machine, comprising; an elevator unit including suspension and latch means at itssidesf or engagingand-suspending a tray undersaictelevator uni't, whereby a layer of sans-supported on said tray are restrained between the tray andelevatorjunit; means including a vertical lift and wheelsaround which said lift extends for raising, investing. and inclining said elevator unit whereby said tray terminates ina positionabove said layer of cansmeans forreleasing said tray engaging} latch means when said elevator is inverted and inclined whereby said layer ot' cans and tray slide from saith elevator; v

2. A can dumping machine comprising a frame structure; dumping wheels journaledat the upper part oi :saiel f rame structura flexible means rising substantially vertically and passing over said ditrnping wheels; airelevator suspended between and carried by said flexible means,v said elevator adapted-to be raised,- and inverted toi-nclined position by movementabout the axis of said clumping wheels; means under said' elevator for engaging and carrying a tray loaded with a for discharge from saidelevator when said ele vator is inverted and inclined.

e. In ahandling apparatusiei liiting and in v'erting trays, each carrying a layer of cans: and initially disposed in a stack, the combinationof: an eievatot having a surface adapted initially to ever-lie a layer-oi cans,- and means carriedby said elevator for engaging and suspending the tray supporting said layer of cans; means for raising; inverting and ttltirig said elevator" whereby said surface forms an inclined chute for the discharge of said cans; afid ineahs for releasing said tray from saidelevator upon inversion of said elevator whereby said tray is discharged with, but above said cans; 3

4 Ina handling apparatus for lit-ting and in: verting tray-s, each carrying a layer of cans and ihitiali y ii-isposeti" a stack; the combination of: art elevator having asurf ae'eadapted initially to overlie a layer of cans on the uppermost tray of saidstack latclt elemehtseeirried by said elevator and-movable laterally to engage and: suspend said tray; handle means accessible whensaid elevator is proximity to said stack for movingsaid elements intoengag-ement with said tray; 7 and a camelement for releasing said latch ele- The cycle of operation a initially disposed in a stack, the combination of;

an elevator having a surface adapted initially to overlie a layer of cans on the uppermost tray of said stack; latch elements carried by said elevator and movable laterally to engage and suspend said tray; handle means accessible when said elevator is in proximity to said stack for moving said latch elements into engagement with said tray; and a cam element for releasing said latch elements from said tray; a pair of inverting wheels; flexible means rising. substantially vertically and passing over said wh'eels; a reversible drive for said flexible means; said elevator being suspended between said flexible means and adapted to be raised and pivoted about the axis of said inverter wheels to an inverted inclined position whereby said layer of cans rests on said surface and said tray is located above said cans; and means engageable with said cam element for Withdrawing said latch elements from said tray whereby said tray and cans may slide from the elevator.

6. In a handling apparatus for lifting and inverting trays, each carrying a layer of cans and initially disposed in a stack, the combination of: an elevator having a flat surface adapted to overlie a layer of cans supported on the uppermost tray of a stack of trays and cans, side members bordering said surface adapted to fit over the sides of said layer of cans and the tray thereunder, and a plurality of latch elements carried by said elevator and linked together for movement in unison into and out of engagement with said uppermost tray; means for raising, inverting and inclining said elevator from a position on said said tray; handle means accessible when said elevator is in proximity to said stack for moving said latch elements into engagement with said tray; and a cam element for releasing said latch elements from said tray; a pair of inverting wheels; flexible means rising substantially vertically and passing over said wheels; a reversible drive for said flexible means; said elevator being withdrawing said latch elements from said tray whereby said tray and cans maylslide from the elevator; and means for stopping said reversible drive as said elevator moves into contact with the stack of cans and trays.

stack and returning said elevator to said stack;

means for actuating said latch elements to engage the uppermost tray when said elevator is on said stack, and means for actuating said latch elements to release said tray when said elevator is inverted and tilted, whereby said layer of cans and tray may slide from said elevator.

'7. In a handling apparatus for lifting and inverting trays, each carrying a layer of cans and initially disposed in a stack, the combination of: an elevator having a flat surface adapted to overlie a layer of cans supported on the uppermost tray of a stack of trays and cans, side members bordering said surface adapted to fit over the sides of said layer of cans and the tray thereunder, and a plurality of latch elements carried by said elevator and linked together for movement in unison into and out of engagement with said uppermost tray; a pair of inverting wheels; flexible means rising substantially vertically and passing over said wheels; a reversible drive for said flexible means; means for actuating said latch elements to engage the uppermost tray when said elevator is on said stack; and means for actuating said latch elements to release said tray when said elevator is inverted and tilted, whereby said layer of cans and tray may slide from said elevator. f

8. In a handling apparatus for lifting and inverting trays, each carrying a layer of cans and initially disposed in a stack, the combination of: an elevator having a surface adapted initially to overlie a layer of cans on the uppermost tray of said stack; latch elements carriedby said elevator and movable laterally to engage and suspend 9. In a handling apparatus for lifting and inverting trays. each carrying alayer of cans and initially disposed in a stack the combination of an elevator having a flat surface'adapted to overlie a layer of cans supported on theuppermost tray of a stack of trays and cans, side members bordering said surface adapted tofit over the sides of said layer of cans and the tray therements to release said tray when said elevator is inverted and tilted, whereby said layer of cans and tray may slide from said elevator; and means for stopping said reversible drive as said elevator moves into contact with the stack of cans and trays.

10. In a handling apparatus for lifting and inverting trays, each carrying a layer of cans and initially disposed in a stack, the combination of an elevator having a flat surface adapted to overlie a layer of cans supported on the uppermost tray of a stack of trays and cans, side members bordering said surface adapted to fit over the sides of said layer of cans and the tray thereunder and a plurality of latch elements carried by said elevator and linked together for movement in unison into and out of engagement with said uppermost tray; a pair of inverting wheels; flexible means rising substantially vertically and passing over said wheels; a reversible drive for said flexible means; means for actuating said latch elements to engage the uppermost tray when said elevator is on said stack; means for actuating said latch elements to release said tray when said elevator is inverted and tilted whereby said layer of cans and tray may slide from said elevator; and means for stopping said reversible drive as said elevator moves into contact with the stack of cans andtrays.

ROBERT J. NEWTON.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Douglass Feb. 24, 1931 Number 

